Freelance Writing Advice: How to Really Make a Living as an Editorial Freelancer

How to Really Make a Living as an Editorial Freelancer (61 pgs)
An E-Book Excerpt

This section is devoted to feedback directly from hiring professionals. I asked each respondent 8 questions that have been put to me numerous times. Here's how they answered.

Title: Assistant Managing Editor, Editorial Production
Industry: Financial Services (Magazine)
Experience: 24 years

1. In your industry, what skills do you generally seek in freelancers (education, experience, number of years in industry, etc.)?

On a resume, I look for copy editing accuracy and consistency (if you can't copy edit your own resume, how can I count on you to copy edit my magazine?).

PRINT publishing experience (I've been very disappointed with folks who have only Web experience) and specific software skills.

2. Under what circumstances does your organization hire freelancers? How often?

We hire freelancers regularly, especially in our down-sized world. Ideally, we establish a long-term relationship and work with the same freelancers for a long period. We could not put out the magazine without freelancers.

3. Do most of your freelancers come from in-house referrals, staffing agencies, direct contact, or other means?

I have found that referrals are THE best way to find freelance or full-time help. I have, however, used agencies to great advantage.

Unfortunately, agencies must charge more than independent freelancers to make a go of their businesses, and our company has set a ceiling on freelancers' hourly rate that pretty much precludes using agencies.

4. How do you decide what rate to pay? For example, is it determined by departmental budget, type of project, agency fee, etc.?

Rates for freelancers haven't really changed much in the past five years - $25 an hour for copy editors and typesetters. The only people who would make more than that are those who have specific industry experience.

6. If you could tell freelancers one thing they should not do when contacting you, what would it be?

8. Other comments, suggestions, feedback.
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Small Business Tip: Start to think of yourself as a small business owner, because that's what you are now. Thinking from this viewpoint early on will bring greater success later on.

You will have to do the marketing, accounting, collections, bill paying, payroll processing, advertising, etc. All those duties that small business owners are accountable for belong to you.

And, if you're thinking that you'll just put something off until later, or will take care of it "later," think again. One tax year with unkempt records will have you screaming "organization!" before you can fire off your next query letter.

Don't have time to market? Get used to the silence of the telephone. While it's all nice and quiet, polish up that resume and start looking for a j-o-b. Because if you don't get in the habit of marketing, that's what you'll have to do.

These are things you HAVE to do now. So, just make them a habit and move on. As we will discuss, getting into a routine makes large/intolerable/I-don't-like-to projects more manageable.

Organize yourself now like you have 100 clients instead of 1. Set up a system that is easy to understand and can be duplicated, no matter how many clients you have.

Organize receipts, create client folders, invest in accounting/contact software (and use it!); keep personal and business expenses separated from the outset. Oh, how you will thank me for this piece of advice at tax time. Lecture over. Now, on to marketing.

To begin, marketing your skills as a freelancer (business owner) is akin to taking on a part-time job (even full-time, depending on how many clients you need to survive).

However, it is a necessary part of your new business so get used to it and create a plan. I have a plan I call "success by the numbers."
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CHAPTER 1: Editorial Freelancing ― An Overview
Preface
The Industry Since 9/11
Where are We Now?
Where's the Work?

CHAPTER 2: Determining Your Market
Copy Editor
Proofreader
Writer
Copywriter
Editor
Indexer
Production: Graphic Design, Desktop Publishing, Layout Specialists, Etc.
To Specialize or Not

Major Areas of Specialty
Medical
Legal
Technical
Scientific
Newspapers
Magazines
E-zines
General Editorial

CHAPTER 3: The Industry ― An Inside Scoop
Getting Your Foot in the Door
Q&A with Industry Hiring Professionals
Summarizing the Professionals

CHAPTER 4: Marketing
Developing a Marketing Plan: Success by the Numbers
Marketing Strategies
Marketing with Postcards
Marketing with Press Releases
Sample Press Release
Cold Calling
Marketing Your Business via a Web Site
Technology and What It Means for Small Business
The Four Main Reasons Every Business Needs a Web Site
Web Site Costs
Mailing List Companies
Creating a Contact File
Your Marketing Kit
Implementing Your Marketing Plan
Sample Cover Letter
Sample Professional Profile

CHAPTER 5: Invoicing & Getting Paid
Trouble Getting Paid: A Case Study
Sample Reminder Collection Letter
How Companies Pay
Sample Reminder Collection Message: Voice Mail
Billing on Time

CHAPTER 6: Organization & Summary
Organize Your Work Space
Where to Begin to Look for Work
Warning: Fee for Work
Summary: Key Points to Remember

How to Really Make a Living as an Editorial Freelancer: In this ebook, editors, human resources professionals, managing editors & editorial directors – in short, the people who hire freelancers – were interviewed. They reveal exactly what you should do to get them to call you, how they like to be contacted, what you shouldn’t do (which is as important as knowing what to do) – and so much more.

Advice from Successful Freelancers: How They Built Their Biz & How You Can Too! This ebook features interviews with real editorial freelancers who divulge how they got started; why they decided to go out on their own; how they acquired clients; advice to newbies entering the field — and more. A cross section of freelancers were interviewed – from college students to single moms and professionals.

How to Get Your Biz on the Web Quickly & Affordably: An Easy-to-Follow Guide in Plain English for Those New to Internet Terminology & Web Technology. Be on the Web in less than a week — really!

The Small Biz Owner's Completing Marketing Kit: No matter what type of business you have, you must market to be successful.

In this ebook, 7 free & low-cost, easy-to-implement methods are discussed. Learn how to increase sales w/very little or no money (samples are included every step of the way).

How to Break into Medical Editing/Copyediting: Many freelancers wonder about this very lucrative niche.

This ebook answers such questions as: 1) How to break into medical editing/copyediting; 2) How much you can expect to make; What skills are needed; What a typical day is like; etc. Editors and copy editors with 5-15+ years of experience contributed to give a very concise first-hand view of this type of freelancing.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Article Marketing: Results of a 30-day Article Marketing Experiment. Article marketing is one of the most effective ways to advertise your freelance business. Want proof?

I conducted a 30-day article marketing experiment and chronicled the boost to my income. The following questions are answered – and much more: Is article marketing profitable; how it works; which sites work best; how often to submit; what to submit; how much money you can make, etc.

7 Ways a Freelance Writer Can Expand Your Profits – No Matter What Your Business Is! I got the idea for this ebook when I wrote a few “prospecting” ebooks for clients to give a way to their customers.

It is the perfect FREE giveaway to send out to potential clients. You can use it, for example, i) as an incentive to build your subscriber list; ii) as a free marketing tool to entice seminar, workshop and/or classroom subscribers; to send to contacts you make at networking events; etc.

BONUS EBOOK! From Startup to Success. As the author of the aforementioned ebooks – and as a freelance writer since 1993 – I receive many inquiries about how I started my freelance career.

In this in-depth report I answer such questions as how I acquired my first clients, what I did when I lost my biggest client two months after quitting my job, how I financed my first business — and more! Additionally, I outline 7 tips for aspiring & existing freelancers.

BONUS EREPORT! How to Make $100/Day as a Freelance Writer -- Relatively Easily! This report details 4 simple steps to take to ensure that you make -- at least -- $100/Day.

When I first published this report, many freelance writers said that $100/day was was "lowballing," ie, expecting too little. One freelancer remarked, "$500/day would be more like it. Anyone who can string two grammatically correct sentences together can expect to make this ($100/day)." What does this prove?

$100/day is the low end of what you should be making as a freelance writer. Many charge this per hour.

I'm positive that you’ll find that freelance writing is a viable work-from-home career. Why? Because I've been doing it since 1993 and have helped hundreds of others make the transition.

I know you’re going to get more and more excited when you realize that, “Yes! This is something I can do.” Reading first-hand stories from others who explain exactly how they achieved success will spur you on to get started – almost immediately.

If you have questions before or after you place your order, email me any time by clicking here.

I’ve been a freelance writer since 1993, and know the joy it brings me. If you don’t feel this is a career for you after reading through the information, your money will be refunded immediately – no questions asked.

I’m Ready to Start a Successful Freelance Writing Career!

Send me all 7 ebooks, plus my 2 FREE BONUSES!

1. How to Really Make a Living as an Editorial Freelancer

2. Advice from Successful Freelancers

3. How to Get Your Biz on the Web Quickly & Affordably

4. The Small Biz Owner's Completing Marketing Kit

5. How to Break Into Medical Editing/Copyediting

6. 7 Ways a Freelance Writer Can Expand Your Profits – No Matter What Your Business Is!

7. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Article Marketing

Plus two FREE BONUSES!

Order now safely and securely with PayPal. You will receive your ebooks instantly!

Order now for only $37.

P.S.: BONUS #1. The FREE report, How to Make $100/Day as a Freelance Writer, outlines four specific steps to take to easily start making $100/day as a freelance writer.

The freedom that comes with knowing that you are completely in control of your career; that you decide when and who to work for; how much you will work for; and not have your life in any one boss’s hand is unlike any other. You will never again have to worry about losing your job. And, you can even start part-time and bring in extra income while you work a full-time job.

P.P.S.: BONUS #2. Don’t forget to send the e-book, From Startup to Success: How one freelancer went from a FT job to freelancing full-time. This explains how I began my career in publishing -- from how I secured my first freelance job, to how I built a company employing others as freelance writers, editors, copy editors, etc. More importantly, it outlines how you can do the same thing.

About the Author: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: The Authority Site on How to Start a Freelance Writing Business.

Ms. Black has been in the publishing industry since 1987. She owned/managed Inkwell Editorial, an editorial staffing agency in New York City, from 1996-2004. She repositioned the business as an online information portal for editorial and creative professionals in December of 2004.

As of this update, Yuwanda has published over 40 e-books, two freelance writing e-courses, numerous reports and a multitude of articles. She aslo developed and taught a popular Chicago-style copyediting course, attended by Fortune 500 executives and junior execs alike.

Ms. Black also developed and taught a web development and marketing course at Borough of Manhattan Community College (NYC).

A serial entrepreneur, Yuwanda and her businesses have been featured in magazines, newspapers and online outlets nationwide, among them: Entrepreneur.com's small business magazine, Be Your Own Boss; The Wall Street Journal's, RealEstateJournal.com; and The Chicago Sun Times.

Among other accomplishments, Ms. Black has been a freelancer since 1993; a syndicated small business columnist, and a freelance/entrepreneurial advisor. She holds an AA in English; a BA in Sociology; and took courses towards an MA in Criminal Justice (John Jay College of Criminal Justice, NYC).